THE DAYSTAR
BY: GABRIELLA THE FAIR
Chapter 10
TIS IT BUT A BURDEN ON MY HEART
"What was she like, how would you explain her?" With a faraway smile, he looked up to the sky and answered, "She was the Daystar, lighting up the day during our darkest hour, warming the earth with her love." "She is as clear as the moon, as fair as the sun, and as glorious as an army under one banner"
To most she was a loving friend, her fairness lighting up the world, no matter what the weather. To some a companion, and one a lover and dream. Yet, many feared her dignity in her footsteps, power in her stride, and authority in her eyes. This is her story.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"We will reach the doors of Moria by sunset today, hopefully, or I fear that we will not reach them at all, for Aragorn has seldom walked in this country and I have only been in Moria save two times"
The Company had set out just hours after dawn, making their way to Moria. They had decided to go to Moria that morning, seeing as to there was no other way. They were to travel all day and get there at night. The country they walked in was rugged and twisting, and everyone soon became tired and footsore. Gimli walked at Gandalf's side to excited to wait. Sooner or later, he was ahead of them, and he called back to them. They ran up to find a deep channel, the stones brown and red, but there was no movement at all.
"Ah, yes, Sirannon, the Gate-stream, as they used to call it. The water is not moving now, though, it used to be noisy and swift. Well, we cannot sit and think, we are already late enough!" Gandalf hurried them on, not wasting a second.
They went along for a couple of miles and getting even more tired at every step. Finally, they rounded a sharp bend in the channel, and saw a low cliff with water trickling down its sides. "This is it, Stair Falls, and if I am right, there is a flight of stairs cut into the rock. Then we would walk in the shallow valley of Moria. Let us go see what its like now!"
They found the steps and climbed them, Gimli running up them, followed by Gandalf and Frodo. Raquel stayed in the middle, weary from the fight last night. To their surprise, when they reached the bottom of the steps, they saw a vast pool spread out before them, instead of the beautiful valley that Gandalf had invisioned. The pool also blocked their way to the Door of Moria.
"There is where the Gate of Moria stood, the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin. But this way is blocked. I do not think anyone in this Company wishes to swim in this water, it looks unwholesome."
"But then how will we get to the northern edge? Even if there was no star, we cannot get the baggage pony up here anyway." said Gimli.
"We will not take the poor beast into the Mines anyway, it is dark and fearsome." Gandalf replied.
"Poor Bill!" Frodo said, dismayed, "And poor Sam, he will be very lonesome"
"I am very sorry" Gandalf said, "Bill has been a faithful companion, but we will spare him the fright of the Mines. It will be better for him."
They traveled round the northernmost part of the pool, and took several hours to do it. When they reached their spot, they heard a splish in the water, and turning quickly they saw ripples in it. Gandalf now pressed on even harder, until they finally reached their spot where Gandalf had pointed from the stair.
"Well, we are finally here. Here marks the end of the Hollin domain, the planted holly as their token. Those were happier days, when there was still a close friendship between Dwarf and Elf." The Elves and Dwarf stared at each other.
"I have not heard that it was the fault of the Dwarves." Gimli said tartly.
"Nor have I about the Elves." Legolas said just as strongly.
They glared at each other.
"This is absurd," Raquel said, "It was everyone's fault, so stop your bickering, we need to work together on this." she said looking at each of them sternly.
"To be punished by a Lady" Boromir whispered, snickering.
Raquel looked sharply at Boromir. Aragorn and the hobbits snickered.
"Yes, please, Legolas and Gimli, try to be friends. The Doors are hidden and shut, the sooner we find them the better. Night is close!"
Turning to the whole Company he asked them,
"While I am searching, please get ready to enter the Mines. Since we are not taking Bill, we need to lighten our packs. Each person will take food and a water skin."
"But, Mr. Gandalf!" Sam said urgently, "What about Bill? You can't leave him here, in this dark and ugly place, after he's come so far and all. I won't have it, and that's final!"
"I am sorry Sam, but I do not think you could be able to even drag Bill in there, it is the best for him."
Sam stood silently by the pony. Bill put his nose in his ear, seeming to understand. The others sorted out the goods to be left behind. When this was done they turned to watch Gandalf. Gimli watched Gandalf excitedly, while he wandered around looking and stooping to pick up rocks or tap it with his axe. Legolas leaned against the rock as if listening. Raquel stood by the pool, looking at it queerly. Everyone else sat down to talk or stood watching.
"Now when we are ready to go, there are no doors, we can not even see them!" Merry said sullenly.
"Dwarf-doors are not made to be seen when shut Meriadoc. Even their own creators cannot open them without remembering how, if they forget, it is lost forever." Gandalf sighed.
"But this door was not made to be a secret known only to Dwarves. The eyes that know what to look for, will discover the signs." Gandalf said, half in thought.
"And the mind that knows what to seek for will find answers to riddles unknown." Raquel said turning from her spot by the pool. Gandalf smiled at her.
"You are using your own advice, my good wizard," she said, smiling, "for tis' it but a burden on my heart." she winked at him and went back to her pool gazing.
Gandalf only shook his head, muttered something under his breath, that Legolas made out as "She has gotten to smart for her own liking." or something of the sort.
"Too smart, or too clever?" Legolas wondered as he looked at her.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Look, can you see anything now?"
The moon had come out and started to shine on the rock, displaying the door from which Gandalf had talked of. In pale silver, the threads became pictures carved in old.
"Look the device of Durin!" Gimli ran to the Door.
"The Tree of the High Elves" said Legolas
"The Star of the House Of Fëanor" Gandalf said.
"And it is all wrought in ithildin, isn't it Gandalf?" Raquel asked stepping up and touching the pictures.
"Yes, it is, Ithildin." he said once again using his childhood name for her, "ithildin only mirrors starlight and moonlight, and is opened when one touches it and uses the right word."
"And you do know, right?" asked Merry.
"Yes, if I can think of it." he replied
"What does the writing say, is it in Elvish, I thought I could read elven- letters, but I cannot read these." Frodo said.
"Yes, these are elf-letters, Frodo, the words are in the elven-tongue of the West of Middle-earth in the Elder Days" Gandalf explained, "Raquel what do they say, I have taught you this tongue." "It says, The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter, that's what it says on top," her hand followed the letters as she spoke, "on the bottom it says, I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor, of Hollin drew these signs, that's what it says." she looked at him, "speak friend and enter, what does it mean Gandalf?"
"Yes, these doors probably open when the right word is spoken. Usually these doors stood open, but the word was never recorded was it, Gimli?"
"Yes, all you speak is true." Gimli replied.
"But you do know the word, right Gandalf?" Boromir asked.
"No!" Gandalf said frustrated.
"Then why did you bring us here? You told us you have passed through the Mines, so how can you not know the word to open the door!"
"To answer your first question Boromir I brought you here because I do not know the word-yet, if you give me some time to think, and some quiet, I will be able to figure it out. Second, do you doubt what I have told you? When I went through here before, I came from the East." the wizard said, "Also, I will tell you that these Doors open outwards, so you cannot push from out here to open them."
"So what are you going to do?" Pippin asked, not discouraged by the wizards blazing eyes.
"Knock on the doors with your head Pippin", the wizard replied, shaking his head in dismay, "But if that does not shatter them, I will seek for the opening words"
"I know one thing, the opening words are in Elvish, like the writing on the arch."
He then stepped to the doors and placed his staff in the middle,
"Annon edhellen, edro hi ammem! Fennas nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!" he shouted; though nothing moved. The silver lines faded slightly yet, came back in the blink of an eye. He repeated the words many times, doing variations, or trying new words in place of the old, but still nothing happened. He walked up to the rock and struck it with his staff, saying,
"Edro, edro!" (Tran) "Open, open!"
He repeated this in Common, but still nothing happened, and he threw his staff on the ground and sat down.
Raquel turned back to the water, the feeling she had puzzled her. It was not like the others, where they hurt her or screamed at her, this one was more silent, yet it seemed to grow by the second, just waiting to attack.
"Gandalf, I do not like this pool." she turned to see him still sitting there, ignoring her or just not hearing. She turned back. What is it about this pool?
Far off they heard the sound of wolves howling. Bill jumped, but Sam went to his side to comfort him.
"How I loath this pool" Boromir said, picking up some stones and throwing them in. "Boromir I do not think you should do that." Raquel said quietly.
"And why not? It is not hurting anything." he picked up another stone and threw it in. "Oh, that looks like fun!" Pippin jumped up with some stones and almost threw one in, but Raquel grabbed his arm.
"No, please don't Pippin." she looked at him steadily.
"Why not Raquel?" he asked her, total innocence on his face.
"I do not like this pool or the feeling it is giving me, please go back and sit with Merry."
He put down the stones and walked back over to Merry. Raquel looked at the pool; ripples came from the stone Boromir threw. Raquel got out her bow and strung it.
"Now why do you do that?" Legolas walked toward her, a questioning look on his face.
"What?" she asked.
"String you bow, why do you do that?"
"Like I said, I do not like the feeling of this pool."
He looked out at the pool and opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Gandalf.
"I have it! How simple, it is all just but a riddle!" he walked over to the Doors and spoke
"Mellon!" he said, his staff against the Door.
The star shown brightly, then faded into nothing as the Door's hinges and outlining showed. Silently, the great doors opened. Everyone got up and walked to the Door.
"That was so absurd! It was all inscribed in the archway. "Speak friend and enter!"
"And 'mellon' is the Elvish word for friend?" Frodo asked.
"Yes, you are exactly right Frodo." Gandalf smiled, and stepped onto the first step.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right at that moment, when Gandalf's foot hit the step, a tentacle reached out and grabbed Frodo by the ankle. Raquel swung around and leashed an arrow.
"Ha! I knew you were there!" she yelled.
It let go of Frodo momentarily, though twenty other arms came out of the water, seizing him this time around the stomach.
"Help, someone!" Sam yelled.
Legolas released an arrow, hitting the thing's tentacle.
The thing then lifted its head out of the water; it's whole body now on the surface. Raquel put away her bow and drew Sunstone, moving in on the thing. She slashed three of them, and reached Frodo, with Aragorn behind her. She slashed at it, cutting it and blood spilled down her sword. Behind her she heard Aragorn yell.
"We got Frodo, come on Raquel!" he turned and ran to the others, Legolas was still shooting arrows.
She ran, drenched and soaked with water and blood, when one came from behind and grabbed her around the neck, lifting her up slowly. She tried to scream, but she was smothered by 'it' squeezing even harder. She heard a pounding in her ears, and everything started to go black. She felt as her grip was released on Sunstone, and it dropped below her, falling into the black waters.
:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:- P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P
cliffhanger! I know, it stinks, but you already know wats gonna happen, or do you? (mysterious music in the background, but ends up being the song in barney that we all hate) umm. yea sry, got a little carried away. yea, anywho, more soon! next chapter- Wait!!! I cant say anythin, cuz then ull know what happens! really, ill have it all ready in a bit. if ya'll havent heard or neva knew this, Orlando Bloom quit smoking! if ya neva knew that or don't even know who Orli is then yea, get a reality check, cuz, well yea, hes only the guy that plays Legolas in Lord of the Rings, but nobody cares about that? (LOL AND HUGE JK) thanx also to Elena and aga_xris for reviewing, yes I will write more! ok, thanx for stickin with me guys, l luv ya!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
PS-again, come and check out my new, TOTALLY interactive fic! u could be in it! PPS-sry, I just remembered this, the ithildin name thing, I had no idea that the letterings were made out of itildin, I didn't even know there was such a word! A while back I was looking in the Silmarillion for other names for Raquel and put I Ithildin down (starmoon) with some other names I might use in the future. Strange.
"What was she like, how would you explain her?" With a faraway smile, he looked up to the sky and answered, "She was the Daystar, lighting up the day during our darkest hour, warming the earth with her love." "She is as clear as the moon, as fair as the sun, and as glorious as an army under one banner"
To most she was a loving friend, her fairness lighting up the world, no matter what the weather. To some a companion, and one a lover and dream. Yet, many feared her dignity in her footsteps, power in her stride, and authority in her eyes. This is her story.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"We will reach the doors of Moria by sunset today, hopefully, or I fear that we will not reach them at all, for Aragorn has seldom walked in this country and I have only been in Moria save two times"
The Company had set out just hours after dawn, making their way to Moria. They had decided to go to Moria that morning, seeing as to there was no other way. They were to travel all day and get there at night. The country they walked in was rugged and twisting, and everyone soon became tired and footsore. Gimli walked at Gandalf's side to excited to wait. Sooner or later, he was ahead of them, and he called back to them. They ran up to find a deep channel, the stones brown and red, but there was no movement at all.
"Ah, yes, Sirannon, the Gate-stream, as they used to call it. The water is not moving now, though, it used to be noisy and swift. Well, we cannot sit and think, we are already late enough!" Gandalf hurried them on, not wasting a second.
They went along for a couple of miles and getting even more tired at every step. Finally, they rounded a sharp bend in the channel, and saw a low cliff with water trickling down its sides. "This is it, Stair Falls, and if I am right, there is a flight of stairs cut into the rock. Then we would walk in the shallow valley of Moria. Let us go see what its like now!"
They found the steps and climbed them, Gimli running up them, followed by Gandalf and Frodo. Raquel stayed in the middle, weary from the fight last night. To their surprise, when they reached the bottom of the steps, they saw a vast pool spread out before them, instead of the beautiful valley that Gandalf had invisioned. The pool also blocked their way to the Door of Moria.
"There is where the Gate of Moria stood, the Elven Door at the end of the road from Hollin. But this way is blocked. I do not think anyone in this Company wishes to swim in this water, it looks unwholesome."
"But then how will we get to the northern edge? Even if there was no star, we cannot get the baggage pony up here anyway." said Gimli.
"We will not take the poor beast into the Mines anyway, it is dark and fearsome." Gandalf replied.
"Poor Bill!" Frodo said, dismayed, "And poor Sam, he will be very lonesome"
"I am very sorry" Gandalf said, "Bill has been a faithful companion, but we will spare him the fright of the Mines. It will be better for him."
They traveled round the northernmost part of the pool, and took several hours to do it. When they reached their spot, they heard a splish in the water, and turning quickly they saw ripples in it. Gandalf now pressed on even harder, until they finally reached their spot where Gandalf had pointed from the stair.
"Well, we are finally here. Here marks the end of the Hollin domain, the planted holly as their token. Those were happier days, when there was still a close friendship between Dwarf and Elf." The Elves and Dwarf stared at each other.
"I have not heard that it was the fault of the Dwarves." Gimli said tartly.
"Nor have I about the Elves." Legolas said just as strongly.
They glared at each other.
"This is absurd," Raquel said, "It was everyone's fault, so stop your bickering, we need to work together on this." she said looking at each of them sternly.
"To be punished by a Lady" Boromir whispered, snickering.
Raquel looked sharply at Boromir. Aragorn and the hobbits snickered.
"Yes, please, Legolas and Gimli, try to be friends. The Doors are hidden and shut, the sooner we find them the better. Night is close!"
Turning to the whole Company he asked them,
"While I am searching, please get ready to enter the Mines. Since we are not taking Bill, we need to lighten our packs. Each person will take food and a water skin."
"But, Mr. Gandalf!" Sam said urgently, "What about Bill? You can't leave him here, in this dark and ugly place, after he's come so far and all. I won't have it, and that's final!"
"I am sorry Sam, but I do not think you could be able to even drag Bill in there, it is the best for him."
Sam stood silently by the pony. Bill put his nose in his ear, seeming to understand. The others sorted out the goods to be left behind. When this was done they turned to watch Gandalf. Gimli watched Gandalf excitedly, while he wandered around looking and stooping to pick up rocks or tap it with his axe. Legolas leaned against the rock as if listening. Raquel stood by the pool, looking at it queerly. Everyone else sat down to talk or stood watching.
"Now when we are ready to go, there are no doors, we can not even see them!" Merry said sullenly.
"Dwarf-doors are not made to be seen when shut Meriadoc. Even their own creators cannot open them without remembering how, if they forget, it is lost forever." Gandalf sighed.
"But this door was not made to be a secret known only to Dwarves. The eyes that know what to look for, will discover the signs." Gandalf said, half in thought.
"And the mind that knows what to seek for will find answers to riddles unknown." Raquel said turning from her spot by the pool. Gandalf smiled at her.
"You are using your own advice, my good wizard," she said, smiling, "for tis' it but a burden on my heart." she winked at him and went back to her pool gazing.
Gandalf only shook his head, muttered something under his breath, that Legolas made out as "She has gotten to smart for her own liking." or something of the sort.
"Too smart, or too clever?" Legolas wondered as he looked at her.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Look, can you see anything now?"
The moon had come out and started to shine on the rock, displaying the door from which Gandalf had talked of. In pale silver, the threads became pictures carved in old.
"Look the device of Durin!" Gimli ran to the Door.
"The Tree of the High Elves" said Legolas
"The Star of the House Of Fëanor" Gandalf said.
"And it is all wrought in ithildin, isn't it Gandalf?" Raquel asked stepping up and touching the pictures.
"Yes, it is, Ithildin." he said once again using his childhood name for her, "ithildin only mirrors starlight and moonlight, and is opened when one touches it and uses the right word."
"And you do know, right?" asked Merry.
"Yes, if I can think of it." he replied
"What does the writing say, is it in Elvish, I thought I could read elven- letters, but I cannot read these." Frodo said.
"Yes, these are elf-letters, Frodo, the words are in the elven-tongue of the West of Middle-earth in the Elder Days" Gandalf explained, "Raquel what do they say, I have taught you this tongue." "It says, The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter, that's what it says on top," her hand followed the letters as she spoke, "on the bottom it says, I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor, of Hollin drew these signs, that's what it says." she looked at him, "speak friend and enter, what does it mean Gandalf?"
"Yes, these doors probably open when the right word is spoken. Usually these doors stood open, but the word was never recorded was it, Gimli?"
"Yes, all you speak is true." Gimli replied.
"But you do know the word, right Gandalf?" Boromir asked.
"No!" Gandalf said frustrated.
"Then why did you bring us here? You told us you have passed through the Mines, so how can you not know the word to open the door!"
"To answer your first question Boromir I brought you here because I do not know the word-yet, if you give me some time to think, and some quiet, I will be able to figure it out. Second, do you doubt what I have told you? When I went through here before, I came from the East." the wizard said, "Also, I will tell you that these Doors open outwards, so you cannot push from out here to open them."
"So what are you going to do?" Pippin asked, not discouraged by the wizards blazing eyes.
"Knock on the doors with your head Pippin", the wizard replied, shaking his head in dismay, "But if that does not shatter them, I will seek for the opening words"
"I know one thing, the opening words are in Elvish, like the writing on the arch."
He then stepped to the doors and placed his staff in the middle,
"Annon edhellen, edro hi ammem! Fennas nogothrim, lasto beth lammen!" he shouted; though nothing moved. The silver lines faded slightly yet, came back in the blink of an eye. He repeated the words many times, doing variations, or trying new words in place of the old, but still nothing happened. He walked up to the rock and struck it with his staff, saying,
"Edro, edro!" (Tran) "Open, open!"
He repeated this in Common, but still nothing happened, and he threw his staff on the ground and sat down.
Raquel turned back to the water, the feeling she had puzzled her. It was not like the others, where they hurt her or screamed at her, this one was more silent, yet it seemed to grow by the second, just waiting to attack.
"Gandalf, I do not like this pool." she turned to see him still sitting there, ignoring her or just not hearing. She turned back. What is it about this pool?
Far off they heard the sound of wolves howling. Bill jumped, but Sam went to his side to comfort him.
"How I loath this pool" Boromir said, picking up some stones and throwing them in. "Boromir I do not think you should do that." Raquel said quietly.
"And why not? It is not hurting anything." he picked up another stone and threw it in. "Oh, that looks like fun!" Pippin jumped up with some stones and almost threw one in, but Raquel grabbed his arm.
"No, please don't Pippin." she looked at him steadily.
"Why not Raquel?" he asked her, total innocence on his face.
"I do not like this pool or the feeling it is giving me, please go back and sit with Merry."
He put down the stones and walked back over to Merry. Raquel looked at the pool; ripples came from the stone Boromir threw. Raquel got out her bow and strung it.
"Now why do you do that?" Legolas walked toward her, a questioning look on his face.
"What?" she asked.
"String you bow, why do you do that?"
"Like I said, I do not like the feeling of this pool."
He looked out at the pool and opened his mouth, but was interrupted by Gandalf.
"I have it! How simple, it is all just but a riddle!" he walked over to the Doors and spoke
"Mellon!" he said, his staff against the Door.
The star shown brightly, then faded into nothing as the Door's hinges and outlining showed. Silently, the great doors opened. Everyone got up and walked to the Door.
"That was so absurd! It was all inscribed in the archway. "Speak friend and enter!"
"And 'mellon' is the Elvish word for friend?" Frodo asked.
"Yes, you are exactly right Frodo." Gandalf smiled, and stepped onto the first step.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right at that moment, when Gandalf's foot hit the step, a tentacle reached out and grabbed Frodo by the ankle. Raquel swung around and leashed an arrow.
"Ha! I knew you were there!" she yelled.
It let go of Frodo momentarily, though twenty other arms came out of the water, seizing him this time around the stomach.
"Help, someone!" Sam yelled.
Legolas released an arrow, hitting the thing's tentacle.
The thing then lifted its head out of the water; it's whole body now on the surface. Raquel put away her bow and drew Sunstone, moving in on the thing. She slashed three of them, and reached Frodo, with Aragorn behind her. She slashed at it, cutting it and blood spilled down her sword. Behind her she heard Aragorn yell.
"We got Frodo, come on Raquel!" he turned and ran to the others, Legolas was still shooting arrows.
She ran, drenched and soaked with water and blood, when one came from behind and grabbed her around the neck, lifting her up slowly. She tried to scream, but she was smothered by 'it' squeezing even harder. She heard a pounding in her ears, and everything started to go black. She felt as her grip was released on Sunstone, and it dropped below her, falling into the black waters.
:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P:- P:-P:-P:-P:-P:-P
cliffhanger! I know, it stinks, but you already know wats gonna happen, or do you? (mysterious music in the background, but ends up being the song in barney that we all hate) umm. yea sry, got a little carried away. yea, anywho, more soon! next chapter- Wait!!! I cant say anythin, cuz then ull know what happens! really, ill have it all ready in a bit. if ya'll havent heard or neva knew this, Orlando Bloom quit smoking! if ya neva knew that or don't even know who Orli is then yea, get a reality check, cuz, well yea, hes only the guy that plays Legolas in Lord of the Rings, but nobody cares about that? (LOL AND HUGE JK) thanx also to Elena and aga_xris for reviewing, yes I will write more! ok, thanx for stickin with me guys, l luv ya!
*~*~*Gabi*~*~*
PS-again, come and check out my new, TOTALLY interactive fic! u could be in it! PPS-sry, I just remembered this, the ithildin name thing, I had no idea that the letterings were made out of itildin, I didn't even know there was such a word! A while back I was looking in the Silmarillion for other names for Raquel and put I Ithildin down (starmoon) with some other names I might use in the future. Strange.